Oil-expressing apparatus.



A. W. FRENCH.

OilL EXPRESSING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, 1914.

1,158,797. P&t6Il;t6dE1i0Y.2E,1915.

f R E I 2 a a Z A h H L r4/fa r/7gyks.

COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH (IO-,WASHINGTON. D. c.

A. W. FRENCH. OIL EXPRESSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22.1914- Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- [4 79 o/wey.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60., WASHINGTON. D4 2v Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3- T. H g

h fneasea (47%n7ey5. v

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH C0., WASHINGTON. D. c.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Patented Nov. 2

A W FRENCH OIL EXPRESSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22. 1914.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFTQE.

ALFRED W. FRENCH, F IPIQUA, OHIO.

OIL-EXPRESSING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

Application filed July 22, 1914. Serial No. 852,400.

to oil expressing apparatus of that kind in which the presses used are of the cage type in which the meal or 011 bearing material is introduced in successive layers with 1n- .tervening press plates and cloths into the open top of the press box or cage, and is compressed between a removable pressure block or cover at the upper end of the cage and a ram which moves upwardly in the cage.

The object of the invention is to provide a practical and efiicient apparatus of comparatively simple and inexpensive construction, whereby a plurality of presses, arranged around a meal cooked, can be charged directly from the cooker and operated one after another with the maximum speed and minimum amount of labor, thereby insuring a large output at a small operating expense.

In the apparatus hereinafter described in detail, a plurality of presses of the opentop cage type are arranged in a circular series around a meal cooker which is provided. with a press charging device which is movable to place it in position to charge the presses one after another, and which is adapted to be operated to carry to the press charges of material received from the vertically movable pressure block or cover against which the material is pressed by the upward movement of the ram. This pressure block is raised away from the press box when charging the press, and the ram, which, at the commencement of the charging operation is in the upper portion of the press box, is gradually lowered to make room for the successive charges. When the charging device has deposited a charge of meal into the upper end of the press box, an operative places avpress cloth on this charge, then a press plate on this cloth, and another press cloth on the press plate, after which the charging device is again operated to deliver another charge of meal into the press box, this operation being repeated until the press box is filled. When the press box has been filled with the desired number of charges, the pressure block is lowered to the upper end of the press box and a spacing block or abutment is moved into place between the pressure block and the station- 1 ary head of the press to hold the pressure block rigid, and the ram is sent up to express the oil from the material. After the oil has been expressed the abutment is moved from its position over the pressure block and the latter is raised. The ram is then caused to move upwardly and the operative removes the cakes successively as they are pushed out of the upper end of the press box and places the press plates and cloths in a convenientpositi0n for use again. After one press has been charged the charging device is moved into operative relation to the next press, which is charged and operated to express the oil in a similar manner. The charging device'is preferably reciprocated radially to deliver the charges to the presses by hydraulic actuating means, and the pressure block is also similarly actuated.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan View, on a reduced cooker showing the location of the discharge openings thereof. Fig. 1 is a plan view of the press box. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation, on an enlarged scale, showing one of the presses and the lower portion of the meal cooker and charging device. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the swivel connection for the pipes of the hydraulic operating mechanism of the charging device. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation, on an enlarged scale, showing the charging device and the lower portion of the meal cooker. Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of one of the presses showing the position of the parts when preliminarily compressing the material to take up the slack. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary similar view, showing the abutment in position for holding the pressure block rigid for expressing the oil. ldig. 10 is a sectional plan view in line 10- lO, Fig. 9.

A represents a meal cooker around which are arranged, in fixed positions in the arc of a circle concentric with the cooker, a series of presses 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, G, of which there may be any desired number. Except as herein: after described, the cooker may be of any suitable construction.

B represents the charging device forearrying the meal in measured charges froln the cooker to the presses. This charging device is mounted to swing in an arc concentrio with the line of presses l-6 to place it in operative position radially in line with any one of the presses, and consists of a charge box 6 adapted to receive a charge of meal from the cooker, and means for reciprccating the same from the position in which it receives the meal from the cooker to a position to drop the charge of meal into the open end of the box or cage of the press. The charging device could be adapted to *thus deliver the charges of meal to the several presses in various ways, as for instance by rotatably mounting the meal cooker to turn as a whole with the charging device, or by providing the cooker with a lower kettle or bottom portion adapted to thus rotate with the charging device, in order that the charging device can reciprocate between the discharge opening of the cooker to one or another of the presses. Preferably, however, the cooker, as shown in the drawings, is stationary and has a series of bif'ttOnl discharge openings a-a Fig. 3, corresponding in number with the presses l6 and arranged radially in line therewith, and the charging device B is rotatably mounted so that it canbe swung horizontally beneath "the cooker to place the charge box Z) into position to receive the material from one or another of the several discharge openings ac. Each of these discharge openings is provided with a slide door a or other suitable closure, all of which remain closed ex cept the one for the opening beneath which the charging device is positioned.

C represents a supporting frame for the V charging device. This frame, as shown, has

a swivel connection 0 of any suitable construction with the central portion of the bot-' tom 'of the cooker, and is provided at its outer end'with an upwardly extending portion 0 having laterally projecting lugs or .flanges 0 which. 'bear and are adapted to slide on inner and outer flanged circular rails 0 v and c secured to the bottom of the meal cooker. The upwardly extending'portion c of the frame is hollow and forms an open-ended discharge spout for the meal adapted to register separately with tlie'discharge openings a'a in the bottom of the cooker; 'This discharge spout 0: is prefergranted to me April29, 19 13.

pipe 6. charge box outwardly to deliver a charge to' one of the presses the valve 6" is moved by 1 a lever e or other suitable actuating device,

ably of rectangular shape in cross-section, with its upper endcorresponding --1-n dimensions with the discharge.openings, and flares downwardly to insure the free discharge of the meal.

The charge box Z) may be of usual form,

1 consisting of an open-ended rectangular box,

plate or apron d extending horizontally from the upper end of the box for closing the discharge spout'when'the box is moved outwardly to deliver a charge to one of the presses;

The charge box is'reciprocated preferably by hydraulic operating mechanism similar to that disclosed in Patent No. 1,059,986, Briefly stated, this mechanism is 'constructed and operates as followsqE represents piston rod which is'secured to 'the charge box 5 and is provided with a piston arranged to reciprocate in a horizontal cylinder 6 which issupported on the frame 0 radially with reference to the cooker. Operating-liquid under pressure is admitted to the outer end of the cylinder by a pipe 6 andto the inner end of the cylinder by a pipe 6 These" pipes lead from the casing of a valve e for controlling the passage *of the operating liquid to and from the ends of the cylinder efor reciprocating the piston and the chargebox. Liquid supply and discharge pipes e and e lead to the casing of the controlling valve 0 The valve 6 admits the operating liquid. at all times from the supply pipe to the outer end of the cylinder through the l/Vhen it is desired to move the to a positionto connect-the 'supplypipe 6 with the pipe e -leading to the inner end of the cylinder, and the pressure of the liquid on the inner end of thepiston moves the piston outwardly against the opposingpressure on the oppositeend of the piston which is of less area than the inner end of the piston. The valve is held in this position by a 'suitablelatch device 0 Fig. 7, until the charge box reaches the end of its travel, when a trip device a on the apron (Z trips the latch 0 and the valve 1s returned by a spring 'el When the valve is thus returned it connects the pipe leading fromthe inner end of the cylinder with the'discharge pipe c", and the pressure of the liquid on the outer end of the piston moves the piston and the charge box connected thereto inwardly. As no claim is made herein to this hydraulic ope1atingn1ecl1anis'm for the charge box the spectively.

'or connection F, which is located co-axially with respect to the charging device. This swivel connection may be of any suitable construction. As shown in Fig. 6, it comprises a casing 7 provided with inner and outer passages or chambers and 7 re- A stationary supply pipe 7 connects with the inner chamber f anda stationary discharge pipe 7 lead from. the outer chamber The supply pipe 6* leading to the controlling valve 6 is connected to the upper end of the casing f in communication with the inner chamber f thereof,

by a screw cap f in which the pipe is adapted to turn or swivel. The cap f is provided with a packing gland f to prevent I leakage of the liquid around the pipe 6*.

Surrounding and adapted to turn on the casing f is a swivel sleeve provided at opposite ends with packing glands or stuifing boxes f f to prevent leakage through the joint between the sleeve and the casing.

The discharge pipe 6 leading from the controlling valve 6 connects with the sleeve which is chambered interiorly and connects with the outer chamber f of the casing through one or more holes f in the wall of the casing. A swivel joint or connection of simple and practical construction is thus provided between both the supply and discharge pipes 6 and e which swing with the charging device, and the stationary supply and discharge pipes.

' The press comprises a vertical cylinder G, a ram or plungerg arranged to move vertically therein, a press head H connected by bolts h. to the cylinder, and an open-ended press cage or box I which is secured on the cylinder betweenthe same and the press head. These parts may be of any usual or suitable construction. The press he'adI-I is formed with or has secured thereon in any suitable manner an upright cylinder h in which is arranged to reciprocate vertically a piston or plunger h? which extends through the lower end of the cylinder and carries a pressure block-or cover K adapted to enter and close the upper end of the press box I. Thispressure block K is adapted to be lowered into and raised out'of the press box by liquid under pressure admitted to the cylinder h by means of any suitable connections not shown.

The press cage or box I may be of any suitable construction, but, as shown in Fig.

i at, it preferably consists of an outer steel cylinder or ring '11 and tour segmental blocks 71 therein forming a rectangular pressing chamber. In order to alford the necessary drainage, these blocks may be grooved, as shown at i", and covered with perforated )lates' or mats i or narrow vertical stri )s shown at i*, may be arranged vertically close together against the inner faces of the blocks 2" with intervening V-shaped drain passages, see Flg. 4. p

L represents a spacing block or abutment for holding the pressure block K rigid when pressing the material in the press box. This abutment, as shown, consists of a strong block or casting which is pivoted at one end to swing horizontally on a sleeve Z surrounding one of the bolts/1, which connect the press head and cylinder. The outer or free end of the abutment is slotted vertically at Z to permit it to be swung into a position between the pressure block and the press head, the slotted portion straddling the plunger 72, which supports the pressure block. When the abutment is in place between the pressure block and press head it transmits the pressure on the pressure block to the stationary press head and holds the pressure block rigid. In order to raise the pressure block to open the upper end of the press box, the abutment is first swung out of the way from over the pressure block.

In the operation of the apparatus, after the press box of a press has been filled to the top with loose deposits'of meal separated by the press plates and cloths in the manner explained and before operating the ram to express the oil, the pressure block K is preferably lowered into the end of the press box by admitting liquid to the cylinder it, the ram 9 is caused to move upwardly in the press box to pack the material and take up the slack without expressing the oil. In this way room is made for several more cakes. The pressure block is then raised, the ram started down again and the charging device operated to deposit the additional charges necessary to fill the space remaining in the press box. The pressure block K is then lowered again into the upper end of the press box, the abutment L is swung into place between the pressure block and the press head H to hold the block rigid, and the ram is sent up again to express the oil. In order to remove the abutment to permit the pressure block to be raised for discharging the pressed cakes from the upper end of the press box, it is first necessary to relieve the pressure of the pressure block on the abutment. This'is done by admitting liquid pressure to thecylinder hto force the piston 7L and pressure block K down sufficiently to admit of the abutment being read-,

' rality of presses arranged in relatively fixed positions around said cooker, said cooker having a discharge spout which is movable to place it in operative relation to any one of said presses, a press charging device which is movable with said spout and is adapted to receive material therefrom in the several positions of the spout, said charging device being also movable from said spout to the adjacent press for charging the press.

2. The combination of a cooker, a plurality of presses arranged in relatively fixed positions around said cooker, a charging device for the presses which is mounted to swing to a position radially in line witheach of sald presses, said charging device being also movable radially to carry a charge of material received from said cooker to the press which is radially in line with the charging'device.

,3. The combination of a cooker,a plurality of pressesarranged in relatively fixed positions around said cooker, a charging device for the presses which is arranged to receive material from said cooker and is mounted to swing about an axis at the center of said cooker to place it in operative relation to any one of said presses, said charging device being also mounted to reciprocate radially to carry the charge of material from the cooker-to the adjacent press.

4. The combination of a cooker, a plurality of presses arrangedin relatively fixed positions around said cooker, a charging device for the presses which is arranged to receive material from said cooker and is mounted to move horizontally from an operative relation to'o'ne of said presses to an operative relation to another of said presses,

said charging device being also mounted to reciprocate radially relative'to said cooker from a position to receive material from the cooker to a position over the press which is in operative relation to the charging device.

5. The combination of a cooker, a plurality of presses arranged in relatively fixed vice for the presses which is arranged to receive material from said cooker and is movable from an operative relation to one of said presses to an operative relation to ceive material from said cooker and is movable from an operative relation to one of said presses to anoperative relation to another of sald oresses, said charging'device being also movable to carry a charge of material from the cooker to the press, and a single mechanism for moving said charging device 111 the different operative positions thereof to carry the material from the cooker to the press. 7 V.

7 The combination of a cooker having a plurality of bottom discharge openings, a plurality of presses arranged around said cooker radially in line with said discharge openings, a charging device for the presses which is movable to place it in position to receive material from any one of said dis-' charge openings, and which isalso mounted to reciprocate radially to carry material from the discharge opening to the adjacent press.

S. The combination of a cooker having a plurality of bottom discharge openings, a plurality of presses arranged around said cooker radially in line with said discharge openings, a discharge spout whichis movable to place it in register with any one of said discharge openings, anda charging device for the presses which is movable with said discharge spout, and is also movable ielative to said discharge spout for carrying material therefrom to the presses.

9. The combination of a cooker, a plurality of presses arranged in relatively fixed positions. around said cooker, acharging positions around said cooker, a charging device for the presses which is arranged to receive material from said cooker and is movable to place it in operative relation to one after another of said presses, and fluid pressure-operated mechanism for moving said charging device to carry the material from the cooker to the presses. said actuating mechanism including fluid connections which permit movement of said-mechanism from the cooker to the presses, comprising a cylinder, a piston movable therein and connected to said charging device,and fluid connections for said cylinder including a swivel joint which permits movement of said cylinder with said charging device from.

press to press. 7

12. The combination of a cooker, a plurality' of presses arranged in relatively fixed positions around said cooker, a charging device for the presses, which is arranged to receive material from said cooker and is movable to place it in operative relation to one after another of said presses, and fluidpressure operated mechanism for moving said charging device to carry the material from the cooker to the presses, comprising a cylinder, a piston movable therein and connected to said charging device, and fluid supply and return connections for said cylinder including a commonswivel joint which permits movement of said cylinder with said charging device from press to press.

13. The combination of a cooker, a plurality of presses arrranged around said cooker, a charging device for the presses which is arranged to receive material from said cooker, a supporting frame for said charging device mounted to swing about an axis concentric withsaid presses, and a rectilinear guide on said frame on which said charging device is adapted to reciprocate for carrying the material from the cooker to the presses.

14:. The combination of a cooker having .a plurality of bottom discharge openings,

a plurality of presses arranged around said cooker "adjacent tosaid discharge openings, a frame provided with a discharge spout and mounted to swing about an axis concentric withsaid discharge openings to place said spout in register with one after another of said openings, and a charging device for the presses which is movably mounted on said frame to carry the material from said spout to the presses.

V 15. The combination of a press box having an open end, a ram movable in said box for pressing the material, a pressure block at the open end of the press box, a cylinder piston and piston rod for forcing said pressure block toward the press box, and an abutment which is'constructed to embrace said piston rod between said pressure block andsaid abutment for holding said pressure block rigid against movement in the opposite direction and which is movable away from the holding position, said cylinder and piston being adapted for operation to relieve said abutment from the pressure of said pressure block.

16. The combination of a cooker, a plurality of presses arranged in relatively fixed positions around said cooker, a charging device for the presses which is mounted to move beneath the cooker from an operative position relative to one of said presses to an operative position relative to another of said presses, said charging device being nor anally located substantially wholly underneath the cooker and being movable from a receiving position under. the cooker outwardly for carrying a charge of material from the cooker to a press.

17. The combination of a cooker, a plurality of presses arranged in relatively fixed positions around said cooker, a charging device for the presses which is mounted beneath the cooker to swing about an axis substantially concentric with the cooker from an operative position relative to one of said presses to an operative position relative to. another of said presses, said charging device being also movable from a receiving po sition outwardly for carrying a charge of material from the cooker to a press, and the outermost portion of the charging device when in said receiving position lying substantially underneath the cooker.

18. The combination of a cooker, a plurality of presses arranged in relatively fixed positions around said cooker, a charging device for the presses which is suspended from the bottom of the cooker and is arranged to move under the cooker from an operative position relative to one of said presses to an operative position relative to another of said presses, and is also movable from a position in which it receives a charge of material from the cooker toward a press for carrying a'charge of material to the press. 1

fitness my hand, this 15 day of July, 1914.

' ALFRED V. FRENCH.

WVitnesses:

IRENE ELI, I R. M. DONOVAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. 

